Saint-Denis (AFP)
Olivier Giroud was established for his 100th selection with the captain's armband of the Blues, Wednesday (9:10 p.m.) in a friendly against Ukraine in Saint-Denis, where Houssem Aouar and Eduardo Camavinga are holders for the first time in their young career.
As announced, the coach of the Blues Didier Deschamps composed a starting XI mixing usual holders like Clément Lenglet and Benjamin Pavard in defense, and substitutes such as Steve Mandanda in goals and Steven Nzonzi in midfield.
At 34, Giroud acts as a tutor for young shoots Dayot Upamecano (21), Aouar (22) selected for the first time in the France team and Camavinga (17), holder for the first time a month after his Noticeable entry into play against Croatia (4-2) also at the Stade de France.
The Rennes midfielder becomes the youngest post-war holder in the French team, the third in the history of the Blues.
The attack line includes Anthony Martial, the Manchester United striker who scored points in September for his first team appearances after more than two years of absence.
The bench of the 2018 world champions includes Hugo Lloris, Raphaël Varane, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann or Kylian Mbappé, all likely to be used among the six possible changes during the match.
The meeting, scheduled two days after the start of the rally, serves as a preparation for the League of Nations matches against Portugal on Sunday in Saint-Denis and in Zagreb next Wednesday against Croatia.
The Ukrainian team led by former Golden Ball Andrei Shevchenko is very weakened by injuries and Covid-19 cases which have affected three goalkeepers in particular.
Dynamo Kiev goalkeeper Georgiy Bushchan celebrates his first selection.
France: Mandanda - Pavard, Upamecano, Lenglet, Digne - Camavinga, Nzonzi, Tolisso - Aouar - Giroud (cap.), Martial.
Coach: Didier Deschamps.
Ukraine: Bushchan - Konoplya, Zabarny, Mykolenko, Mykhaylichenko - Makarenko, Kharatin - Malinovsky, Yarmolenko (cap.), Zubkov - Shaparenko.
Coach: Andreï Shevchenko.
Referee: Andris Treimanis (LVA)
© 2020 AFP